Korean Journal of Agricultural Science ISSN:2466-2402(Print) 2466-2410(Online) 농업과학연구

Fipronil is a popular insecticide used in both agricultural and domestic fields. Factors that affect sperm and eggs have a direct influence on reproductive outcomes. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of varying concentrations (10 - 200 μM) of fipronil and incubation times (30 min and 2 hrs) on boar spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were evaluated for motility, motion kinematics, viability, chromatin stability, and for the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the results were compared to those from corresponding controls. The findings revealed a significant, dose-dependent reduction in sperm motility in all fipronil treatment groups at 30 min of incubation (p < 0.05). A similar dose-dependent reduction in sperm motility was observed subsequent to fipronil exposure for 2 hrs of incubation (p < 0.05). Groups treated with fipronil showed a gradual reduction in motion kinematics (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significantly higher percentage of dead sperm was observed at 200 μM fipronil, as compared to the highest live percentage obtained in controls (p < 0.05). Evaluating the sperm chromatin integrity revealed a significantly higher percentage of damaged chromatin in spermatozoa incubated with 200 μM of fipronil. Moreover, ROS production was significantly higher in fipronil-exposed sperm (p < 0.05). In conclusion, boar spermatozoa incubated with fipronil showed decreased levels of sperm motility and viability, weaker chromatin integrity, and increased levels of intracellular ROS generation, all of which indicate that exposure to fipronil potentially impairs the fertilization competence of boar spermatozoa.